Let it out: Part IV

A continuation on a theme when I have nothing else to say. Part I here. Part II here. Part III here.

What does love mean to you?

I received a cute forward from an aunt who loves forwards. It was one I had seen before and makes me smile at the minds of children. (Even though I am well aware no child ever said it, but rather it was some adult writing it to make a point.) Anyway, the forward is about a little girl looking for 'puppy size' when in actuality she was looking for 'puppy sighs' as a sign of love.

Here is a little snippet from the end of the forward:

'No not size... the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,' she said. 'Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sighs!'

'Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,' she said.

I got thinking about love after that and paying attention to what I feel when I am hugged by someone I love. And wouldn't you know, the little girl was right? When you hug someone you love, it's like everything that has been pressing on you all day (or week or month or the last 6 years) just lifts for that brief moment. For a moment, being in the arms of a person you love protects you from everything else. You know you will be safe, and loved, and accepted, and your body lets all that tension out in one breath.

And it carries on from there. When you truly love someone you don't have to prove it - not to yourself or others around you. You just love. Neither time nor distance can change that. Damn Ky and her love of John Donne taught me that. I never believed her when I was in most of my relationships. And now, I know all I have to do is wait for a hug from The Guy and all is right with the world. Not being together every moment of the day doesn't change that.

So, love to me is trust. It is knowing that the person you are with would do everything within their power to make sure everything was ok for you and you would do the same for them. It is honestly wanting what is best for that person despite what it costs you and knowing - without a doubt in your mind or heart - they would do the same.